Referee Memorandum

From the U.S. Soccer Communications Center -- Jan.
6, 2003

To: State Referee Administrators
State Youth Referee Administrators
State Directors of Referee Instruction
State Directors of Referee Assessment
National Referee Instructors and Trainers
National Assessors
National Referees

CC: All Professional Leagues

From: Alfred Kleinaitis
Manager of Referee Development and Education

Subject: Rescinding a Displayed
Card for Misconduct

Date: January 6, 2003

After the completion of a top
professional league match recently played in Europe,
the referee decided to cancel (rescind) a caution he
had given during play for an act of misconduct. Questions
have been raised regarding the correctness of this
decision under the Laws of the Game. The following
guidance is applicable to the general issue of whether
a card for misconduct of any sort can be canceled.

A displayed red or yellow
card can be canceled by the referee if play has not
restarted.

If play has been restarted
or if the match is over (including required periods
of additional play and/or kicks from the penalty
mark), a displayed red or yellow card cannot be canceled
by the referee for any reason.

If the referee believes a
card has been issued in error, regardless of the
reason, the card must still be included in the match
report and the referee must provide all details relevant
to the mistake. In such cases, the determination
of the validity of the card is left to the competition
authority.

The failure of the referee
to include accurately and fully all cards displayed
during play is a serious violation of the referee’s
responsibilities.

Referees should note Question #9 under
Law 12 in FIFA’s Questions and Answers to the Laws
of the Game where it is specifically noted that the referee
may not decide to rescind a caution if the player who
has already been charged with misconduct apologizes.